To the bolded - putting financial issues aside (which are still important), there should unquestionably be less importance put on players with smaller roles than those with larger roles. But, this organization has yet to prove they actually view Bargnani any different than the always have. I know Colangelo has said alot in regards to Bargnani or this team, but he always says alot without it necessarily being reflected on the court or how he runs the organization.

This is the most valid point I've heard about this issue.

It's one thing to say "he's played one game with some effort and already you appreciate him bla bla bla"...it's an irrelevant point.

What is relevant is that Bargnani's role on the team has changed (if he stays) and that's already been decided. The question is can he and the organization make the shift mentally. It's not so simple after all these years.

Bottom line is, you cannot argue that ANY player in the NBA, if he has the proper role and responsibility can help a team. The question is always if that player will accept their role in the pecking order, and if the organization sees where they are supposed to fit.

he is not arujo...he will go to another team, and will probably be valuable as a 7th-9th man.

I've hated him for a while (still do) but last night's effort from him made me look at the positives

1. Arguably the best one on one post defender on the team
2. Mobile big to spell Amir (instead of AIRon)
3. 7 footer who can shoot 3's and score in bunches in limited minutes if he is on

as a 7th-9th man, why can't there be a place for him?

let the bashing begin!

Bargnani should be the 2nd option on this team offensively behind Rudy Gay. He is our 2nd most talented player, and can be a beast as a 6th man. I am going out on a limb and saying that I don't think he is going to get traded, and he is going to flourish on this team as a 2nd option behind Gay.

His man on man defense in the post is very good, he is a gifted scorer, someone who has been the #1 option on a team before, he is in his prime, and with Amir johnson in the game his lack of help defense is mitigated.

Sorry guys but blaming the entire teams woes over the last 3 years on one guy doesn't make sense, I'm not buying it. Viva Bargnani!

Any team that "needs" a low-efficiency, lethargic, 7-footer allergic to the paint (on both ends of the floor) has some serious issues.

This team has a lot of needs....but Bargnani isn't one of them.

Someone shooting around 45% for his career from the field and 36% from 3pt line for his career is not "low efficiency" he is the 2nd most talented guy on this team, giving him up for nothing is not smart.

We heard Casey talk to the media following the loss yesterday to the Celtics saying that we need more scoring from the bench, this is the answer. If a trade gets done including bargnani that improves our team I am down for it. But an offensive lineup including Derozan, Gay, and Bargnani could be formidable, and its time to see how it plays out.

Someone shooting around 45% for his career from the field and 36% from 3pt line for his career is not "low efficiency" he is the 2nd most talented guy on this team, giving him up for nothing is not smart.

We heard Casey talk to the media following the loss yesterday to the Celtics saying that we need more scoring from the bench, this is the answer. If a trade gets done including bargnani that improves our team I am down for it. But an offensive lineup including Derozan, Gay, and Bargnani could be formidable, and its time to see how it plays out.

If the reason why we suck defensively was because of Bargnani, how come our defense hasn't improved while he has been gone? We still suck defensively, that tells me that it is not entirely his fault. We played better defense in previous years while he was still on the team, the issue is something else. No need to crucify one of our most talented players because we are searching for answers.

His defense looked pretty good to me in yesterday's game. And he was one of our most efficient scorers going 5 for 10 from the field, all that while having 2 months worth of rust on him. Give the guy a break, give the guy the ball, let him go to work.

Someone shooting around 45% for his career from the field and 36% from 3pt line for his career is not "low efficiency" he is the 2nd most talented guy on this team, giving him up for nothing is not smart.

It is when you're talking about a 7 footer. Bargs ranked 5th worst all-time in FG% amongst 7 footers with 25+ mpg played over their career.